The Rainforest Conservation Foundation began in 1996. We are an incorporated not-for-profit company with a Board of unpaid, Directors who play an active role in the direction of the organisation.
Our mission at the Rainforest Conservation Foundation is to save what we still have, restore what's been lost and preserve our precious Rainforest eco-systems for the benefit of future generations.
Golly, our Conservation Officer is resident in the Daintree at the Foundation's Benella Rainforest Reserve, Education Centre and native plant nursery. We have three current projects;
$60,000.00 Donation Goal
Project Details - Benella Rainforest Reserve
We propagate and plant native rainforest trees to regenerate cleared rainforest in the Daintree. The process doesn’t stop at planting the tree, we carefully maintain our planted trees with regular watering in dry months, weed maintenance until the trees gain canopy coverage and where necessary, if there are gaps in the coverage, we plant further trees.
Funds raised contribute to the operation and maintenance of the nursery and for the maintenance of trees already planted for a period of 5 years. Rainforest Conservation Foundation are researching new ways to scope out land properties for the most effective way to plant trees, make use of water available and determine the best suited plants for the terrain.
Rainforest Conservation Foundation aim to have a large regeneration project established by 2022. We are in the process of improving our seed collection process.
$50,000.00 Donation Goal
Project Details - Benella Rainforest Reserve Education Centre
Benella Rainforest Reserve is the headquarters of our field operations and our Education Centre.
The Education Centre currently has over 100 students visiting per year, in addition to visits by various donors and their families. Visitors spend the day with Golly, our Conservation Officer, touring the facilities, looking at many of the ancient flowering species that the Daintree is renowned for and spending time in the nursery, potting or planting the trees that will one day be replanted into the Daintree.
Feedback from this experience has been positive and Rainforest Conservation Foundation hope to expand these educational tours throughout 2021/2022, COVID-19 permitting.
Rainforest Conservation Foundation are in the process of setting up our top 30 list of trees that we grow in the nursery, establishing boardwalks for a Rainforest tour on the reserve and other fun things to see and do at Benella. So watch this space...
$200,000.00 Donation Goal
Project Details - Creating a Cassowary Corridor
The Benella Rainforest Reserve sits within a region which is identified as both a priority cassowary habitat management area and an important bird area. Rainforest Conservation Foundation maintains the Benella Rainforest Reserve as an important wildlife sanctuary.
Our initial primary focus is to contribute to the expansion of the Cassowary Corridor from Mission Beach to Cape Tribulation. We purchase land in strategic locations with intact rainforest and cassowary habitation and transfer to National Parks or hold or establish and hold as Nature Refuges with the relevant covenants in place.